THE FRIENDS WHO WALKED HER INTO THE WOODS
The Night She Was Supposed to Come Back
Shortly after midnight on July 6, 2012, Skylar Annette Neese left her family’s apartment in Star City, West Virginia. A security camera recorded Skylar climbing out of her bedroom window and getting into a sedan parked outside. The footage showed no visible signs of distress or urgency.
Skylar did not pack belongings consistent with leaving home. Items left behind included her cell phone charger, her contact lenses, and other personal effects she would have needed the following day. Her bedroom window was left open, and the screen had been removed and placed inside the room. According to her parents, these details indicated Skylar expected to return shortly.
Skylar had arranged to meet two people she trusted: Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf, both close friends and classmates. According to later admissions made in court, Shelia and Rachel picked Skylar up and drove her away from Star City during the early morning hours.
The vehicle traveled across state lines into Greene County, Pennsylvania. The location where they stopped was a rural, wooded area that had been visited previously by the group. According to Rachel’s later confession, the three exited the vehicle together. Rachel stated that shortly after stepping away from the car, she and Shelia counted aloud before attacking Skylar with knives they had brought with them.
Skylar attempted to defend herself and tried to run. During the struggle, Skylar stabbed Rachel in the leg. The attack continued. Rachel later stated that Shelia continued stabbing Skylar until she was no longer moving.
Skylar Neese died at the scene.
Shelia and Rachel attempted to bury Skylar’s body but were unable to do so. Instead, they covered her body with leaves, sticks, and other natural debris in an effort to conceal her. They changed their clothes, cleaned themselves, and wiped down the vehicle before returning to West Virginia.
Skylar was never seen alive again.
Who Skylar Was and Why Her Absence Was Immediate
Skylar Annette Neese lived with her parents, Mary and Dave Neese, in Star City, West Virginia. She was their only child. Skylar attended high school, maintained strong academic standing, and worked part-time at a local restaurant. Family statements described her as close to her parents, socially active, and consistent in her daily routines.
When Skylar did not return home overnight, her parents noticed immediately. On the morning of July 6, 2012, they found her bedroom window open with the screen removed. Skylar failed to appear for a scheduled work shift later that day, which her family stated had never happened before.
Skylar was reported missing to local law enforcement on July 6, 2012.
At the time of her disappearance, Skylar was 16 years old.
Six Months of Searching While the Truth Stayed Close
In the early stages of the investigation, law enforcement reviewed surveillance footage showing Skylar leaving the apartment and entering a vehicle willingly. Based on this information, her disappearance was initially treated as a possible runaway case. An Amber Alert was not immediately issued.
Shelia and Rachel were identified early as the last people known to have been with Skylar. Both told investigators they had picked her up briefly and later dropped her off near her home. They maintained this account repeatedly.
During the months that followed, Shelia and Rachel participated publicly in searches, assisted with distributing flyers, and remained in contact with Skylar’s parents. No confirmed sightings of Skylar were produced. Reports of possible sightings in other states were investigated and later ruled out.
As the investigation continued, inconsistencies emerged. Surveillance footage conflicted with the timeline Shelia and Rachel provided. Cell phone records later showed their phones traveling away from Star City during the early morning hours of July 6, rather than remaining nearby as they had claimed.
Investigators continued interviewing both girls separately. Differences in behavior were noted during questioning. Law enforcement arranged polygraph examinations. Shelia completed a polygraph examination that investigators later stated indicated deception. Rachel did not complete a polygraph examination.
In late December 2012, Rachel experienced a mental health crisis and was hospitalized. During this period, Skylar’s parents continued searching for their daughter without knowing she had already been killed.
The Confession That Changed the Case
In early January 2013, following her release from medical care, Rachel contacted legal counsel and requested to speak with law enforcement. During that meeting, Rachel confessed to Skylar’s killing. She stated that she and Shelia planned and carried out the attack together.
Rachel provided details of the events of July 6, 2012, including the location in Pennsylvania where Skylar’s body had been left. She agreed to cooperate with investigators and led them to the general area. Due to winter weather conditions, Skylar’s remains were not immediately recovered.
Later in January 2013, investigators returned to the area. Skylar’s remains were located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. Forensic examination confirmed the remains belonged to Skylar Neese.
Physical evidence collected during the investigation included biological material recovered from the trunk of the vehicle used that night. Law enforcement stated this evidence supported Rachel’s confession.
What the Legal Record Established
Rachel Shoaf was arrested following her confession. She entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder. The court accepted the plea. Rachel was sentenced to a term of 30 years in prison, with eligibility for parole after serving 10 years.
Shelia Eddy was arrested several months later. She initially pleaded not guilty. Prior to trial, she changed her plea and entered a guilty plea to first-degree murder. Because she was a minor at the time of the crime, she received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after serving a mandatory minimum of 15 years.
Both convictions brought the criminal case to a close.
Years later, during parole proceedings, Rachel made an additional admission regarding motive. She stated that she and Shelia had been in a relationship and feared Skylar would disclose it. This admission occurred after conviction and sentencing and did not alter the legal outcome of the case.
What Still Cannot Be Fully Answered
The full scope of planning discussions between Shelia and Rachel prior to July 2012 remains unclear. It is also unknown whether any threats or statements were overheard and not reported before the killing. The extent of communications between the perpetrators in the days immediately preceding the crime is not fully established in public records. Future parole determinations and outcomes remain pending.
Key Individuals & Relationships
Skylar Annette Neese – Victim – Disappeared July 2012; remains recovered January 2013
Shelia Eddy – Friend – Pleaded guilty to first-degree murder
Rachel Shoaf – Friend – Confessed and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder
Mary Neese – Mother – Reported Skylar missing and advocated for legislative change
Dave Neese – Father – Participated in searches and public advocacy
How to Help
There are no active public tip requests or investigative actions associated with this case. The case is closed through conviction. The family has previously supported educational and legislative efforts related to missing child response awareness.